Atttomcatic mtjsicai



APPLICATION FILED DEC.9, |913.

mama Mar. 14, 1922.

UNITED CHARLES F. STODDAQRD, OF NI'ITJET'-YORK,l N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN PIANO COMPANY, 0F NEW-YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 0F NEW J'ERSIEIY.

' Auronta'rrc Musician INSTRUMENT.

ing tone intensities. l A Amngfothe bjects; the invention' intended to provide"apparatus capable ofpro ducing a -great 'variety o variatioiisin intensity" of .playing, suchapparatus comprising preferably "though not"essentially, la combination At? 'means' for' producin .crei scendo andf decrescendo effects' anda so instituting -v'ariousfapfiried grades grj steps .of

'playing intensityffFr-these purposes the invention may. 'be embodiedf in.` apparatus which is 'very-'simple and reliable in opera'- ti0n j Y "'z For illustration, the accompanying cli-'awing shows one practicableI embodiment o the invention employing suitable' pneumatically' governed `.devi-ces 1n cooperation 5with a piano action ;"'but' aswill appear to' those skilled in the art,' t li ej invention issusceptible of' embodiment tin "various constructions and or anizations otherA than that particularly s own. anddscribedhereinej yIt will appear likewise; vtl'iatfit is note indispensable gOVGIIllIlg means @Kemp that al1 the ieatures'of .tlieinvention beused eonjointly, since tlieirrespective substantial advanta es mayV accrue Vfrom their separate application in any. practicable manner to a suitable playing instrument..

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a typical piano action with operating-'and liying the application and utility of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of a perforated note sheet such as may be used in cooperation with the apparatus of l.

Specieation of Lettersjlaten t.

Patented Mar. 14, 1922.

' appncgubaalea December 9, '1913. serial No. 805,488.

Referring to the drawing, a' typical piano action shown in its normal posit1on of rest comprises a key-controlled, sticker B to act upon a wippen I, a hammer C, damper E, string D and other parts which may be those well-known in the art. To operate lthe action pneumatically a motor pneumatic F is provided, having a sticker H to act upon `the wippen I. A windtrunk 7 leads to the wind 'chest for the motor pneumatics'each ofwhich husa seconder)7 valve 8 controlled by'ffa' priinaryvalve 9'operatcd"from a tracker-board G through a ductlO, inI the usual manner. V The trunk 73 communicates with Aafregu'- latedexhaust chest 12, r-vhi'chrr'niy be of :any practicable construction. A 'high exhaust chest 14, arranged for communicationiwit-h the chest 12,lmay befco'nnected'byav trunkl 15A with any source, ofpneumatic exhaust,

such 'as feeder bellows' 'of *any practicable type. f orthe purpose Vof explaininglthe' general .character of this invention,z and vto exemplify one practicable 'm'ane'r off'gbver'ningz tone intensities, I'hlve 'selected the' apparatus of the drawings in which the ,Sltriltir'igpneumatics F arecaused to' operatez by' the regulated, exhaust 1n the chest"12 this'j` regulated exhaust'being varied, in order tvaryfthe 8 0 'operation of the striking," pneumaticsifbylsubjecting it more or'lessto thefinliuenceofthe high"exhaust in thel 'chest'.lfl. Forj. these specific' purposes I have prov|ded,'betv'1'een municatirig-with the chest 12 througti'suitable perm which are opened and closed in the high exhaust chest 1-1 and theregylated 85 exhaust chest 12: -a chamber 30,"peatfits lower extremity-to the chest:*14,'and' c'om vurying degrees by means of a throttle .valve 90 31 'governinv communication between the` two chests. zFor convenicnce, thi s valvell will be called a. regulatmg valve.

This regulating valve 31 maybe operated by a variety ofdlterent means; and as one practicable meansI for causing: this valve to establish different sulwstnntmlly .distinct grades or degrccs'of regulated exhaust in the chest l2, l have selected thc valve gov mixing a'iprn'alus .shown and described here- 100 I posed by whatever in. This illustrative apparatus comprises various tracker-controlled valve mechanisms, which shall describe herein in order to illustrate howthe same may be used 1n cooperation and combination with other fea tures presented in this application.

In this speciiic apparatus-the lsteinl 32 of the regulating valve 3l projects 'upivardly through the to) of the chamber 3Q into a cylinder of gra uated diameter'. 'Within the cylinder is a unitary piston of graduated diameter .corresponding ln'sl'iapeto the interior of the cylinder; .Said zpig-:tourcoinprises the three eylindrical'parts 3d, 35 and 236, presenting respectively -the acting areas mi grand a* ik; i .u tension springB'Z .connected to the piston stein 32 mayexert an ard pull-upon the latter. iBy means hereinafter described thetension of Vthe spring maylbe ,varied sonas iailidyenvar Pull .structure ;T i. niay .beeneglectec l andl the upwardipull ofthe .upon .theenston bilt..for= :the --iireseiitii-l.11s.i @panty springmay beonsidered substantially constarrt,4 ,disregarding the minute fluctuations .in tension .of .the spring resulting from negligvible elongirttienl and..contrae tion v accomthe slight niovenientsfqthe piston This :substantially nnifgrmg pull .ofthe spring cont ributesl to cont rol the ,pis Iton structurev and regi i.lating..valve .'31,..as .plz'eiseiltly'descrbed- '1 1= -wia v f In discussing theyarious pneumatic ,iniiuences brought to bearqiipon the-piston structure, the socalled exhaust -or fair tension will be treated as having a positive pressure .relative .to aperfect v acuumof zero pressure. y This Odeof treatment is more convenient in explaining the operation of the piston-structure-t an vvould be the .case if exhaust' ivereeonsidered in Athe popular sense' of. exertinga. pull bysuetion, :is distin uished fromv a push by pressure.

Iucts 40, {l1}v and 42 enter 4respt-ictii'ely the cylinder chambers opposite the iston faces mit rallying structure7 and 2. Eachduct is control ed (as ,hereinafter explained)A so as to admit to its vcylinder chamber either atmospheric pressureor regulatedpressure rom `the chest 12V; andthe regulated pressure may be admitted tn .anyone or more, or all, `ofthe chambers whileatmosplieric pressure will .be present in those chambers if ,any,'wheh 'do not contain re ulated pressure.` These v.pressures within ghe cylinder:y chambers .act upwardly upon the piston faces m, and-e, and to ether with the upward pull o the sprm constitute the forces tendin" to movet e piston .structure upwardly. e. high exhaust in .chest 1,4 exerts some upward pressure upon the piston fvalvel, which is so minute as to be negligible in the specific apparatus under discussion. l

`These.upwardly ,directedorces areoppneumuticpressure may ulated exli 2u 1st ..or'4 pressure vis always than' atmospheric. pressure.

fat' its .r'nini'mum,. `when atmosphere is In the illustrative apparatus the upwardly 1 exposed piston areas substantially equal the dovvnwardlyexposed areas :iu-yand ze? IL. vtherefore,,atmosphere be admitted toallthe c linder. chambers,V its upwardpressure on t, eareas4 m, y ande willbeopposed ,and .balanced .br-equal dewnii'ard rassure. :0f

atmosphere iipoli ;equal areas.l his -leayes the'. spring 3 7V unopposed 'to liftl the piston valvel and4 opengthe valve ports to the lullest extent thereby `subi ecting regulated pressure 'in the chest 12'to the maximum influence o' high ,exhaust in the chest lft nder these conditionsnotes are sounded with maximum loudness When the present'iiiventionis embodied iu a construction bwhich employs exhaust Vas distnguished'fror compressed air, thef egess A y Consequently Awhen yregulatedfpres'sure Tis admitted lto all thel Cylinder ehambers,f the jupward pneu matic pressure on the, piston structure is ,then

being,.ofA course, less than admitted to `any Vone or more of the cylinder chambers. Downward atmospheric pressure, being in such ease opposed by the minimum pneumatic upward pressure, substantially predominates und presses the piston structure downwardly, tlie spring 37 havi its tension adjusted so that its upward ul may be overcome more or less by said o wnward atmospheric pressure. lThis downward tendenc A of the piston structure may close 'somew at valve ports between the chests,- 12 and liwith theiesult that 'regultedpressure may be materially cut offUfroI'n theI i'flu'ence of high exhaust in the chest 14'. lUnder these conditions, i. e., when 4regulated pressure is admitted gto all Athe cylinder chambegnotes are played with minimum loudness -available Vin the specific apparatus llustrated'inthe drawings.

It will be evident to -those .skilled in 'the a.rt, that the .greater the v.piston area exposed to regulated pressure' the greater v'ill be the predornnationA ofdoivnivardly acting atmospheric pressure and the greater will be the tendency to .constrict communication between the cliestsv12 and 14. In othenyvords, the reater the piston areas exposed to regulate: pressure. the less is regulated pressure subjected to thef influence of high exhaust and the less will be .the intensity of sounded notes. Accordingly, ther general operation of the cylinderz, and piston .structuresde- .scribed.\ above .ma .ber ,convenientl surnmarizedthus'z-a itting regulated pressure to a c linder-chamber diminishes intensity ;r .admitting atmospheric pressure to a cylinder chamber increases mtenslty.v f

Ther--is-always some leakageY of atmosphereito .the chest 112. as, .for instance, past the various valve mechanisms andfrom the motonpneumatics, such leakage tending constantly. to increase.` regulated .pressure and actually. inereasin it unless the leakage bc fully compensate by exhaust'through the 'chesti [45 'by wa 4ofthe-valve ports in the chamber` 30.- nder :these: circumstances` -wheneverthe pi'ston structure moves down wardlyvand; thereby',` restricts-:the openings between th'e chest 12l and 111-,- the result is to increase re ated pressure; :This lincrea se inregulate pressure,-is.ofcourse,icon-umani'- .cated practically: instantaneouslyto those 'cylinder chambers -which .z contain revula ted pressure* Consequently; ivhenever L .the pistonf stmcturinioves -downwardl-yf the indirectv result? is to; increase Vthe upwardly Vacting regulated pressurei and'.l ther-eb .to .decrease the predominance offdownwiar atmospheric pressure-z -fI-hesgrea'ter theextent of dewyn- -ward movement'- of; thez piston 'structure-*the greaten willibe-the described decrease in the .predominance s. of. 1': downward i atmospheric PCSSUIIJA; 221'.4 f'l Lim:

Y lmanyfinstancefthe piston structure-will m'ove .d'wnwardlys-ntxl the' predominance ofi downward-'atmospheric .pressure diminishes `tasuchaaiiext'ent; 'that 'the -'upwa.rd pull of the fspringbalances such diminished predomi1iance,v wher'euponf fthe' piston structure comesito isst balanced-between" the opposed forc, nzf. -i--fiif '.-".E, 'f

if Illikefmannen?l whenever the piston structure-moves upwardly t0` enlarge thc openings betwe'em the chests-12 'and 14, the eifect is to diminish: regulated" pressure' "by' exhaust througlrwthe chest :14V This diminution yin rev'ulated pressure is communica tedA to those cyiiiderrchambers f 'which 4'containl' regulated pressure; and' conse uentlythe-upward 'regulteds pressure on t i e piston' is diminish ed In-other'fvvords; the structure moves upwardly-'fbecause'fo vthe predominance :of upward pneumatic pressure plus the pull of thespringfsuch upward inovement'of the piston4 structure: has the effect' of decreasing the predominance of upward pressure aud such decreasecontinues 4during upward movement' of the! piston 'structure until there is no longerany predominance and the op-h posed forces are again balance@ whereupon the piston structure comes to rest.

ln the operation of the specific illustrativa constantly. under. the .control of opposed =forces tendingfalwaysto.- balance: eacll' other combination of causes, such that-the pistonstructure. andfvalve 31 may or mayl notfrb'e moved to assist'in a' relestablishmcntlof-the pressure. equation' above 'referred' to,- which holds the'piston structure in'balance.-V f f Normally; and even at atime when it is 'desired to' maintain.constantfegulated' pres sure;V some f leakage of atmosphere i to the chest' 12; and various parts comlii'unicatino therewith, may-'tend to' reduce thefreg'ulated tension in. said 4chest,whelzhei or not 'any of the motor pneumaticsiFfis'inactionL"A reduction .in regulated' tension from"'su'ch cause' ma be compensated* 1t-'sorne ex'tent'by leakage etween the' highl Itensidn* chest L14 and: the chestlQffas b leakage? pastthe piston'f Weihe-'T315 If;vv wever," 5reg'ulated 'veiling pressure* 'equationgf there"'f1 nay t result ani upward "-'mov'emenV'o the; piston structure'g-'enlarging the' openings between the chests 12faxrd 14 e'r'iougli t'o` 'emit'ligh exhaust :to'restorlfth'e' intendef4 "f" ated pressure in'V vchestl '12. ISuch A"a'ctgioi t'li''s place Isp.; promptly and-quickly "that, fnffect; it serv-esta maint-ais irit'd 'tensin substantially A constant (untiuntentipnally adjusted),2 r'athe'r 'than to rest-ore'y it.

`#-:Each motor pnumaticF' when tam-.S atmqsphfe which `remis-us increasertg. latecl pressureinzther chest v12, when the .pneumatici is' thrownv into operation.' Ob;

viously, if severa-1 motor nematicsict simultaneously'there ymay e :a considerable increase' f"regul'ated" 'res'suref 0rdi`n'a'rily, in' theope'rationof the"illustrativeapparatus', the regulated pressure vina be'thussubje'ctd to freque'nt" fluctuations; bythe action'; o 'the motor pneumatica VVluxieyerl 'sucluctu-- ation soincreases'regulated pressure that a pressure' equation is disturliedgfthe 4piston valve lmay be' moved to restore the'equal tion: as clescribedlfAs "already "Suggested, th is restorinr 'action'ftakes place so quickly that it is 'rat-lier 'ama'intaining actionfin' respect to its general'ielifect' upon 'theljegirllated pressure.

From the above `it appears that whatever draughts are made upon the regulated pressul-o, chest l?, and from \\fl-.atcvex"causc, said iso feet.

pressure may be maintained always by the described balancing operation of the piston structure controlling communication between the chests 12 and' 14. Immediately, however, when a deliberate, intentional change is made in the piston area exposed to regulated pressuiefthe pressure equation is tein porarily disturbed, to be restored when a new and `different regulated pressure is established.

It'will be. noted that the regulating action ofthe piston structure majr serve merely to maintain the desired regulatedV pressure in,

spite of any drafts made thereupon, as for instance, by the motor pneumatica That is to sayrtlie regulation does not necessarily result from varying communication between the'lhigh exhaust chest and 'the regulated pressurechest.V For instance, assume that the piston area acted upon by regulated pressurev be-so changed'that a. considerable iiicrease in lregulated pressure is demanded to re-establish the ,pressure equation. 'Assume iirtheethatthis change in, pistoni'areaA be ,accompanied by the action off a considerable number of motor pneiiniatics F,; which in eect alone suicestoincrease the regulated pressure so as to rie-establish the balancing pressure equation. Under such circumstances regulated pressure is changed from a'lower to a higher working level -Without making necessary any change -in the communication between-the two cheststyl and 14. -Thus ingreaterioi' less degree, the mere utilization of regulated pressure in the chest ,12, may cooperate with the deliberate variations of piston areaacted upony by the regulated pressure, so that the control of communicationfbetween the chests Aexercised-by the piston valve may be, and frequently it will he, of merely supplemental and auxiliary ef- Hei'einbefore, a preferred form ot regulating mechanism hasA been described; The manner in which the same may vbegov-erned to' 'initiate different substantially. distinct grades of regulated tension will be next ex plained.

Referring again to the drawing, the duct ll()connects the 4cylinder chamber o posite the piston .arca :c with a.valve,cham er 49. In said chamber is avdupler:r valve 50, arranged foropeiiing-anupperport to atmos pliere andjalternatively opening a port from the chamber i9 through a duct 51 tothe regulated tension ehestflQ. The valveO is controlled by' :i diaphragm over a chamber` 54 which communicates fwith a duct 56. A duplex valve 58 controlsV a port from the duct 56 to atmosphere,v and a second port from the duct 5G to a ,chamber 59 communieating by a duct 60 with the high pressure chest 14. The valve 5S 'is controlled by a diaphragm over a chamber 62 which coniinunicates by u duct (33 with atracker vent T.

surface y. Thus,

When the tracker vent l is open theldiaphragm of chamber 62 and the valve 58 are elevated so as to vent the diaphragm chamber 54 to atmosphere and liftits diaphragm'and the valve 50 and vent the duct 40 to atmosphere. The converse of this operation which closes the duct 40 to atmosphere and opensit to re lated tension, vvilly be described hereina ter.

The ,parts just described-are triplcated lfor controlling the ducts 41 and 42, the corresponding parts ofj the valve mechanism for the latter being indicated by the numerals 50, 51, etc., with indices a for the=valve mechanism for duct 41, and b for the valve mechanism for duct 42. A.

vIn the valve mechanism for duct 4l 'it is assumed that the duct 63a tot-lie'tracker'veht Ta is open to atmosphere which 4lifts the diaphragm of chamber 62, venting chamber 54 to atmosphere and. admitting atmosphere tothe duct 41,-past'the valve fand to the cylinder chamberv oppositeith'el piston vvithenever a tracker" vent T, T or Tb is .ope-,atmosphere :is admitted tothe corresponding cylinderchambere l"When one of the valves 50-,f50f'50b51is once opened by venting the corresponding tracker duct, the valve preferably' ,continues Lopen even through the; tracker went- .'ma'y-be 1ininediately closed. 'In the specific apparatus this results -romw-. the""fact that =oncea=the isv ope'nedzto admit valve 58, for instaneeg atmosphere to the da hragmchamben., said valve 58a1 is hel in that Vposition-why atmosphere admitted past the'jvalve-'xinto ii ductO, through ibleeder-ventfQ, anda duct' 74* (shown in dotted lines):,-which=1at ter communicates-Withlthe da. lragmlcha'mber 62. '-The?chamber59.;fa ove the'di'aphragm communicates asdesc'ribedwith the high exhaust-31195151141 Thus, salong as aitmosphere isadmitted through duct..70.eto duct 74 the diaphragm of-ehamber 621will remain `lifted `and .atmosphere 4vill `continue in the correspondin cylinder chamber y. The parts just descri` das pertainingto the valve 50* are duplicated to cooperate with the valves 50 andih. Y .1

From the preceding discussion-it-will-appear that small` perforations in a music sheet may be employed ';to open-the-tracker vents T, T and :Tt-which maybe-immediately closed if desired.'v Whenused with the illustrative apparatus,- ea'ch such perforation has theefect of introducing atmosphere to a cylinder chamber, .and -even after-the tracker veut is closed, atmosphere will continue in the cylinder chamber until purposely exhausted at any desired subsequent time in a manner suchas that about to be described.

may cooperate with all or any of the three above described valve mechanisms, to negative the effect of opening one or more of the tracker vents T, Ta and T". This single ialve mechanism is shown at the right of ig'. l.

A tracker vent R communicates by its duct 80 with a diaphragm chamber 82, The latter controls a duplex valve 84 which in its alternative positions admits atmosphere to a duct 86 or opens communication between said duct 86 and a duct 88 leading to the high exhaust chest 14. An extension of the duct 86 communicates with each of the three diaphragm chambers 90, 90 and 90". Thus when atmosphere is admitted to the duct 96. past the valve 84, the diaphragms of the chambers 90, 90* and 90b are lifted. In de scribin the eleot of this oper-ation, it is convenient to refer to chamber 90 and asso- Cini/ed aI'S. fi 'i l As a ready stated, the valve 58EL is held in the open position shown, bythe fact that' atmosphere is present in the ducts 70` and- 74. When, however',l .the diaphragm of chamber 90, is lifted, it lifts a diskvalve 92 and closes communication between duct: V andlduct. 7a2-thereby` closing the latter from ;atmosphere. iAt thesame time. the valve 92? -opens communication between the` duct 74 m throu h the bleeder 72, with cham-f ber 94a' Vwhich is open to highv exhaust throu h the duct 60, In this manner the duct '14 is connected with high exhaust which bleeds the atmosphere from'chamberi 62*L thereby permitting'valve '58a to drop, shuttingioil" atmosphere fromthe diaphragm chamber 54 .and throwing the latter into communication withZ thetfchamber 59'*- and the high exhaust chest 14=through the'ductf 60?.- When the diaphragm; chamber-543- is thus exhausted .by "high" exhaust, the valve 50.* 4is permitted to :drop shuttingoiatmosphere-from the cylinder duct 41 and :throw-1v ingtheflatter into communicationwithi'the duct v51*l Slehding to 'the'` regulated; pressure chest 12. `lInthis manner,4 by :opening thel tracker vent-Blythe duct '4l and 'its cylinder. chamberffy- -are cl'ose'd.-i',o'v atmosphere and j' opened ',to regulated pressure. 'f

The operation just'idescribechj so far as concerns the'specic illustrative mechanism,- depends upon bleeding theldiaphragm'ch am# ber 62". `If the tracker duct 631f be`\`openi through its vent T, atfthe time thevent is opened to initiate 'the bleeding offdizif phragm chamber 62, atmosphere will enter7 the chamber 62 more rapidly than it can'be' exhausted. therefrom byv the described bleeding; therefore', the effect of opening the vent R is negatived, and: in such circumstances thatrvalve 58 will remain'open and atmosphere will continue in the corresponding cylinder chamber.

Also, if the tracker vent T, for instance,

be open simultaneously with thc tracker vent R, the latter will inaugurate a tendency. to bleed the chamber 62 and kee the valve 58" closed in the position shown, lint the simultaneous opening of the tracker vent T will admit atmosphere to the'chamber`i62 more rapidly than it can be exhausted by bleedingand therefore the valve 58 Will be lifted in spite of the opening of the tracker vent R.

From the above description it will be understood that whether or not the tracker' vent R be open, the opening of any of the vents T, T, .T', will have its normal and usual effect to admit atmosphere to the appropriate chamber or chambers of the cylinder. This will be true if any vent T, T, T", be opened with or without.simultaneously opening the i trackervent R.

On the other hand, if the vent T be opened and then closed (atmosphere being thereby admitted to a cylinder chamber) and the ventl R be thereafter' o cned; .the'previcus effect of opening vent` and the cylinder chamber opened Ato' reg'ful lated. pressure. i

The effect of openin ous tracker ducts .in'th may be readily understood by: referring tol an illustrative 4form 'fof vperforated'. music sheet diagrammedzin F ig.' 2-'in "which-arel shownl oulin of erforations" at thel left*V for governing the a ve describedfexpresl' sion controllingtracker ventsigThe music sheet maybe assumed togbe travelling'in the direction of the arrow in Fig.l 2i The tracker` and closing'the' varii:

Gis shown in dotted linesini Fig. 2, thel vent Ta bein open through=theperforatin 3,00 inthe s eet. 'Albt'he other -vents are' closed. The perforationsi in.; thesheetI vfor operatin :the motor'pneumatics maybeds" regarde for-brevit i fi y'When' thel note sh-eet and tracker* are relv lated as shown in Fig. 2, the various valve` mechanisms f 'occupy exactly -thefpositio`ns shownin 'F7 llf-:zIf 4novv: the-'musicsheet progress :ein -t e directionz of thearrow,y perforation 301 'will presently openlfthefvent R ythis will4 liftl-the diaphragm 'ofacliamber4 82; open the du'ct'fSG to atmosphere g' admit' f atmosphereto diaphragm -chamber= 90i 'lift' valve 92?; andlthrowthe diaphragm' e mbcr 62* into communication with thehigh7 exhaust chestv14, through theduct 74,='l`past the bleeder 7 2, through'thech'amber `94"andV duct 60. This permits thefvalvev 58*L tofdrop' and thereby- .thet diaphragm chamberf54 is exhausted as described, withv the"inalsresultA that the cylinder' duct'41 and chamber y arey close'dito atmosphere' and opened tmregua lated' pressure. nthese circumstances rre lated pressure is present in all of the-cylln-f der chambers. l 1

When the music sheet progresses further,

the perforation 302 o ens the' vent Tand, as

will be understood, t ereby opens the duct will be 'negatived e specicmmechanismf -Inflf 40 and cylinder chamber a: to atmosphere. Thereafter a perforation 303 and a perforation 304 register respectively and simultaneously with the vents R and T, The perforation 303 negatives the provious effect of the perforation 302 and opens the zcylinder chamber to regulated pressure. The perforation 303 is ineffective, however, in respect to perforation 304 which opens the vent Ta and thereby admits atmosphere to the cylinder chamber y.

As the note sheet progresses further, perforations 305 and A306 open-the vvents T and Tb which admit atmos here to the cylinder chambers a: and z. T e previous efl'ect of the perforation 304A endures, and therefore by reason of the three perforations 304, 305 and 306, atmosphere is'present in all of the cylinder chambers.

Next a perforation` 307 opens the vent R and .simultaneouslya perforation 308 opens the 'vent ,Tif The effect-ofthe eroration 307 ,isV tonegative the-previous-.e ect o'both the perforations 305 and 3065andto open the cylinder chambers mand zto regulated fessure. -The'perforation -'307, how"ever, is ineffective Ain respect to perforation 308 which merely continues the previously established effectof the perforation 304 leaving'th'e!v cylinder chamber y still open to atmospherei f Nextlpe'iforations 309 and 310 reinstate atmosphere `*in the cylinder chambers a: and e, and again all of the cylinder chambers are open to atmosphere. y

Next a. rfo'ration 311 opens the vent R at a time wllin all the other vents are closed, and thereby negatives the effects of all three perforations 308, -309 and 310, with the result that all the cylinder chambers are closed to atmosphere and open to regulated pressure.

. The4 preceding description will suflice to indicate the variety of combinations of perforations whereby atmosphere and regulated pressure may be alternated in one or moreof the cylinderchambers .with the resultant variations -in regulated pressure and in the intensities of notes played thereby` As will appear to those skilled in the art, the usual no'te perforatiens may occur in the music sheet or may b'e related with the described expressiomregulatingperforations, in any 'practicable manner, asfor instance by aligning or substantially aligning the advance end of a note perforation with one or more expression perforations fto establish the regulated pressure in the chest 12 for playing the note with the desired intensity.4

The preceding description has :been devoted to an illustrative form of apparatus by which substantially distinct grades or degrees of regulated exhaust may be established for playing notes with substantially distinct grades of intensity, each such grade being louder or softer than the next grade by a more or less definite and considerable increment. Such an apparatus may be employed to advantage in conjunction with a so-called crescendo and diminuendo apparatus next to be described; but the illustrative form of the latter shown in the drawings, is likewise susceptible of being used separately, and 4it Will be first explained as used independently of all the other apparatus except the illustrative valve 31. which exemplifies means for controlling and varying the regulated exhaust in producing crescendo and diminuendo effects. connection, it will be assumed for the present that the pneumatic conditions in the respective cylinder chambers, opposite the piston faces y and e, are maintainedconstant during operation of the crescendo and diminuendo apparatus,` as -by having regulated exhaust presenti-'in each said chamber. Under tbis' assumption', therefore, 'atmosphere pressing downwardlyv n Vthe piston structure predominates 'overeregulated exhaust pressing upwardly-,the result being a tendency to hold the iston structure and valve 31 down'against t e pull of the spring 37 to cause the notes to be played with minimum intensity.

For the purposes of the illustrative crescendo and diminuendo apparatus, thespring 37 is connected as shown to the movable board 150 of a pneumatic 38, which is supported in any practicable manner andprovided with a stop 151,-against which said movable board normally rests under the pull of a spring 152 which tends to hold the pneumatic distended.

A port 153 is provided in the fixed board of the pneumatic 38, and from this port a duct 154 leads to a passage 155 passing through the Wall of a casing 156. This casing is formed with a plunger chamber 157 `in which a plunger 158 is adapted to work. One end of the plunger chamber is enlarged to form a cylinder 159 in which works a piston 160 firmly secured to the corresponding end of the plunger 158.V The cylinder is closed by a cap 163` secured thereto in any suitable manner as by `being screwed thereon. rIhe open end of-the piston chamber 157 may be closedby a screw threaded plug 162. A spring 163 mounted in the. plunger chamber V15"? tends to move the plunger outwardly, or te vthe right in Fig. 1, 'and by means of a valve the chamber 157 ma be placed alternatively in communication with-atmosphere or with high exhaust. While any suitable valve construction may be used for-this purpose,'it has been found convenient to use a valve construction of the ball type (Fig. 1) comprising 'the passage 165 leading from the chamber '|57 to at- In this mosphcre, the passage 166 leading from said chamber to an exhaust chamber 167 provided in the wall of the casing, and the valve member 168 fixed to one end of' a rod 169 that passes loosely through said passage 166, said rod 169 being attached at its other end to a piston 170 that works in a cylinder 171 closed by a screw threaded cap 172. The exhaust chamber 167 communicates with the chamber of the cylinders 159 and 171 and also by a duct 173 with a source of high exhaust, which maybe the chest 14. The passage 155 communicates normally by a passage 175, of less diameter,.with an annular recess 176 provided inthe outer surface of the plunger 158 and this annular recess communicates with the plunger chamber 157 by means of the passages17( and 178.

The cylinder chambers 159 and 171 communicate by ducts 180, 18d-with vents 182, 183, respectively, provided in the tracker.

From' theconstruction described, it will be apparent thatwith the parts in the positions indicated in Fig. 1, the pneumatic is in communication with atmosphere by means of duct 154, passages 175, 176, 177, 178, chamber 157 and passage 165, it being assumed that-the vents 182, 183 are closed, so that high exhaust exists upon both sides of the' pistons 160 and 170, and the passage 166 is closed bythe valvey member 16S. The pneumatic 38 is thus in extended position. .lf the vent 183 'be opened, for instance by a perforation in a note sheet, atmosphere will be admitted'to the cylinder chamber 171 and iston 170, and the valve member 168 will be moved to close the passage 165, and open the passage 166, thus cutting off the pneumatic. from atmos here and placing it in communication witi high exhaust in chamber 167.

This tends to collapse the pneumatic 38, but owing to the relatively small diameter of the passage 175, the exhaustion ot the pneumatic is retarded. l/Vith this arrangement, if the tracker vent 183 is open for only an' instant, the 'effect in collapsing the pneumatic 38 is only slight; if the tracker vent 183 .be held open for a substantial period, -or is opened a number of times in more or less rapid succession, the eiiect is to cause a substantial collapse of the pneumatic 38 which', however, takes place slowly because of' the relativelysmall diameter ot the passage 175.

If the vent 183 be open continuously for a time, the pneumatic 38 will collapse slowly at substantially uniform speed, thereby uniformly increasing the tension of the' spring 37. It has been .seen heretofore that-the tension of fthe ,spring 37 constitutes one 'of the forces controlling'v the piston structure and regulating valve 31; hence, as lthe pull of the spring is increased as described, the balance of the regulating forces acting on the valve is disturbed and the upward ull increasingly predominates, thereby tent ing lo enlarge gradually7 the communication between the chests 12 and 14 and to give an excellent crescendo efl'ect.

When the tracker vent 183 has been open for a sufficient length of time, or a sufiicient number oftimes in succession, to cause a substantial collapse of the pneumatic 38, the subsequent closing of the vent 183 shuts off the atmosphere from the cylinder chamber 171, which is thereupon prompt-ly exhausted by leakage around the piston 170, so that the valve member 168 is returned to the position shown in F ig. 1 and atmosphere is admitted to the plunger chamber 157 through 4 the passage 165. This atmosphere gradually leaking into the interior of -the pneumatic 38 past the passage 175 of relatively small diameter permits the pneumatic to be" eX panded gradually by -its spring- 152, "the speed of this expansion ot the pneumatichein retarded bythe relatively small diameter. of the passage 175. As the pneumatic is thus gradually expanded, the pull onthe spring 37 is gradually relaxed, thereby gradually decreasing the upward pull on the piston Structure and permitting the forces controlling the latter to resume 'a balanced relation. Obviously, the efi'eet of this operation is to reduce gradually the predominance of upwardly acting forces on thev'alve' and thereby produce a decrescendo.

So long as the vent 183 is held continuously open, the result will be gradually increasing regulated exhaust, theincrease being Ytoall intents and purposes continuously' progressive, as distinguished from' a progression "by substantially distinct increments or 'steps provided for by the first described"valve mechanism for controlling the pneumatic conditions within the graduated cylinder. This provides for what I consider a :theoretically perfect crescendo, in which A'each note played during the course of the crescendo is given an intensity determinedby that point of time in the duration of the uniformity progressive Vcrescendo at which the note is played. This applies likewise to thediminuendo, in which, by the described apparatus, each note is given that intensityl which corresponds to lthe time in ythe diminuendo period at which the note is pla ed. v

f course, the,l highly refined effect just collapsing the pneumatic 38 in progressive steps. For instance, 4the tracker vent 183 may be opened a number of times in succession by a series of small perforations spaced apart so as not to-havethe eli'ect o' a single continuous perforation but to provide an intermission in the collapse of the pneumatic 38 between each perforation and the next succeeding one. During each such intermission, the pneumatic 38 tends to reexpand, by this reexpansionis so retarded by the relatively small dia-meter of the passage 175 that, if it occurs, it is so slight as to be immaterial when the` intermission is short. If the perforations of the crescendo series arcplaced close together, they canse thev collapse of the .pneumatic 38 to occur in a rapidsuccessionof steps, vwhile ifvsnch4 perforations are placed further apart, the collapsing steps .of the. pneumatic follow each other-3 less rapidly and the crescendo is more gradual. Thus the speed of collapse, that is to say, the rapidity of'. the crescendo, may be determined automatically as by the described -.veriationsl .in the spacing of crescendo perforations in ,the note sheet. Of course, the crescendo perforations may be placed so close together in relation to the `size of their tracker ventas to give the 30' effect of ,a single long perforation which will produce the continuously progressive crescendo hereinbefore .referred to.

A diminuendo by progressive steps may be provided for in a manner similar to that above described inV `connect-ion with the crescendo. -For example, the pneumatic 38 havingl beenV partially. collapsed Vand the tracker vent 183 thereafterclosed, the pneumatic 38 begins to expand by reason of the atmosphere admitted past the passage 175. If during this expansion the vent 182 be open temporarily, the expansion of the pneumatic 38 is temporarily arrested with a tendency to cause a slight collapse.` The vent 1.82 bei 4then fpromptly closed, the expansion -ofnie pneumatic 38 is resumed, and so on, .as many interruptions to the diminuendo being introduced as may be desired 4to delay or prolong the diminuendo.

The duration of a. crescendo period may depend obviously upon the length of time that the tracker vent 183 vs,maintained open and the duration oa diminuendo period will depend upon the time consumed by thefpneumatic' 38 in expanding ,from whatever position of collapse it may` have occupied at the end of a procedi crescendo. The rapidity of the cresoen o or diminuendo, that is to say, the extent oincrease or decrease in intensity Vin a. unit of time, will depend upon the capacity of the communication between the pneumatic 38 and the source of high exhaust or atmosphere, respectively; and by varying such communication at any suitable point, thereby varyingDr the speed of collapse and expansion ol the pneumatic 38, the rapidity of the crescendo or diminuendo can be varied. Means for accomplishing this result are exemplified herein by the plunger 158 and its cooperating parts, as will now be more fully described.

ll'vith the parts in their respective positions shown in Fig. 1, if the vent 182 be uncovered, atmosphere will be admitted to the cylinder chamber 159, and thc piston 1G() with its plunger 158 will be moved inwardly or to the left. in Fig. l. against the tension of the spring 163 until both the passage 155 of relatively larger diameter and the passage 175, communicate with thc annular recesslG of the plunger 1.38. niunication between the pneumatic 38 and the source of high exhaust will thus he enlarged. It', then, the vent 183 be uncovered thena crescendo will be initiated; and the crescendo thus produced will be more rapid than the crescendo heretofore described as produced when the passage 175 was the sole means of communication between the duct 154 and the annular recess 176 of the plunger 158. If the vent 183 has already been opened before the vent 182 is uncovered, so that a crescendo is already in progress at the time that the movement of the piston 158 to the left, Fi A'. 1, takes place, then thc more Vrapid crescenco due to the uncovering of the vent 155 will be simply snperposed on the crescendo already initiated by the uncovering of the vent 183, the more rapid crescendo startingr from the point reached by the slower crescendo at the time that the vent 182 is uncovered.

lt will be apparent that the more rapid crescendo will continue so long as both the vents 182 and 183 remain open. VBoth said vents being open, if the vent 182 only hc closed, thus permitting the cylinder chamber 159 to be exhausted by leakage around the piston, the .plunger 158 will lic-returned to the position represented in F ig. 1, by the action of thespringl, so that communication between the duct 154 and the annular space 176 of the piston will be limited to the passage 175 only. It is obvious that the more rapid crescendo produced by opening bot-h vents 182, 183 will thus cease upon the closure of the vent 182; but that, the vent 183 still being open, thc slow crescendo will continue from that point. If then the vent 183 be closed also, the slow diminuendo will result :and continue until the pneumatic 38 is completely inflated.

If both vents 182, 183 be open, the apparatus thus producing the -fast crescendo, as already described and the vent 183 be'then closed While the vent 182 remains open, a. rapid diminuendo will be produced. This will continue until the penumatic 38 is completely inflated-unless the operation is in- The coniterrupted in the meantime as, for example, by closing the vent 182, in which case the p unger 158 will resume the position represented in Fig. 1 and during the remainder of the time necessary to thc complete inflation of the pneumatic 38, the slow diminuendo will continue.

The regulation of playing intensity in substantiallydistinct stepsand the creation of crescendo and decrescendo effects may be combined with great advantage.

Forfeiiample1 the valve mechanism controlled .bythe vents T, T", Tb and R may determine the starting point, in the scale of intensities, of a crescendo-ora diminuendo whereby a crescendo or a diminuendo, may

' `be superposed as itV ,wereI upon an already pregressi,

existing intensity regulation determined by the previous openinzofone kor moreof the lvents l., T, T" and 1,-.

Y Either the slow! crescendo produced by opening the vent 183.aloneory 4the-.rapid crescendo produced by; causfmg` both' Vents 1,82 .and 183 to he opened may be superposed upon an already existing intensity regulation. V-Inthe same manner. the rapid crescendo ina. ,belsuperposednponaslow crescendo by rst opening the vent 183 and'J thereafter openinthe vent 182V; or'botlisaidyents bein fopen, t eslow crescendo maybe super'- pose aipon the Lrapidcrescendo bycausing the runt-182; t0- bwlsefla .the vent..1183 r@- mainin 'openw 1U l .,SirnarlyJ a ,more rapid -diminuendo may li.- SUPGIP Y `uPOIL fam. already. existing slogwer. diminuendo, or vice yersa Furthermore, asgwill-appearto thosefskilled in the art,i thefplaying intensity' may .be yincreased by 'e.Suddenpracticallyinstantaneous step superpose@ :noone-.fe `srsrre'enfl01.vvlliflmls 'in thereby,. `for` exampl e particularly emphasizing some note or; note s; in the crescendo Such f eiets y and-@many 4Others may. be produced. by. apnropriately. eombw ing ,the. crescendo and 1iminue nl o el'ects with the increasing and decreasingcof .1n. ow.

tensities bylthe distinct. steps; itis, h ever, deemedunnecessary to describe these various: different combined eli'ects,4.in` any greaterdetaihusince theywill be readily understood by those skilled in .the art.

In Fig. 2 the arrangement. of .a perforated'musiefsheet. .for producing some of these combined effects, is `shown for illustration. 4For instance,a perforation 315is providedfor opening. .the tracker diret 183 to produce a ,slow f crescendo, followed, v,when the vent 183 is a ain closed, by-a slow decrescendo. As a ready described, the perforation 311 in the music sheet has had the eect of introducing re lated pressure to all of the cylindercbam ers m, y and z, and therefore the slow crescendo caused by the perforation 315 starts at tbe lowest level play louder by of playing intensity and crescendos from that level so long as the perforation 315 (oxitinues, and then decrescendos to the lowest level of intensity. Thereafter, a per 'oratioirlo opens the tracker 4vent T, thereby admitting atmosphere to the cylinder chamber a; and causing the instrument to a distinct step. YVlien, therefore, the periorations 317 and 318 start a fast crescendo, the latter begins at a louder level of playing and vcrescendos Vfrom that. It will be noted that the perforation 318 controlling the speed of operation of the pneumatic 38, extends beyond the rear. end of the perforation 317 so that the combined eiects of the pcr'forations 317 and-318 produce a fast crescendo so long as the former acts, followed by a fast decrescendo. Thereafter, a perforation l 313 Vstarts a slow crescendo during which it may beA assumed for illustration, it is desired to" emphasize some note or notesby introducin sin increase in playing intensity by a distinct step', and immediately thereafter eliminating this increase to permitirle crescendotocontinue without further emphasis. v f

.l-Vhile the slowcrescendo caused bylvthe perforation 319 is in progress, twoperfora` tions 320 and 321 introduce atmosphererto the 'cylinder chambersv y ande` and this Icom; bining Withthe effectief the 4perforation 316 .causes the .loudest playing to ensue Shortly thereafter,` however, tlie..perforatiOIli` 322 negatives A,theV ,el'eetlof .the perforations .32(1) and 321while the perforation323 continues the previous effect of the perforation 316 so that the level of .intensity upon Awliichthc crescendo. started is lrestored,.and, the ores.'- cendo continues so ltlongas,perforation I319 holds the vent- 183 open.A r 11s, will-appear to `those :Skilled Hatha-.art the eectnofthe prfertossi, endl fono-Weier@ .01 less promptly gby--tlie perforations1l322 and 323, is to 'select a certain st agefgin. ,the

crescendoat which notes will be. particularly emphasized above the intensities which they would otherwisdhave in the crescendo at that time. l.. j

For further illustration, a perforation 3 24 starts a fast crescendo during the progress of the slow crescendo by the .perforation 319, and after thelatiter perforation has termi; nated, the pr longation of .the perforation 324. causes a fast decrescendo. fgthe perforation 132,4.;be' terminated .before the pneumatic 38 hashadtimegto lexpand tothe fully open position, then the remaining expansion, after the perforation- 324 has passed fthe trncker, r.esu lts in, a slow decrescendogto the level of intensity. determined by the perforation 32a j The foregoing will suffice to illustrate the various combined arrangements of intensitystep controlling perforations, and crescendo and diminuendo perfomtioiis, by which a great variety of effects may be produced as will appear to those skilled in the ui't.

When it is desired t'o provide for controlling intensities more or less manually, in substitution or supplementation of the described preferably automatic devices, some such manual arrangement may be used as that shown in the drawings and exemplified by a push button 200. The illustrative button may be mounted in any practicable position on the instrument, as for instance, in the -lrey bed-within easy reach oftheoperator, and it is preferably mounted to more vertically under pressure, being-sustained in normal position by a spring 201. The lower end of the button is 4provided with a valve cooperating with a sea't preferably to produce a graduated opening between a duct 202 leading to a soproe of exhaust, preferably high exhaust, and a duct 203. The duct 203 preferably communicates with the interior of the expression cylinder opposite the upwardly exposed yfacesvof the piston. A bleeding vent 204 iay gbe vprovided in ythe button 200 so as to admit atmos here normally to the interior of the cylinder. When, however, the operator places his :finger upon the top of -tlie Vbutton,this bleeding -vent is closed- On depressing the button 200 communication is `opened with a gradual or rapid increase, depending 'upon the speed of depression' of the button, 'betweenl the exhaust duct 202-a-nd lthe-duct 203. In this manner exhaust =ma=y be introduced to the interior o1 the cylinder to modify the .pneumatic conditions itherein andtliereby to vary the differential of the pneumatic pressuresacting upwardly and downwardly on the pistonfto'eontroNthethrottle valve 31. As willappear'vtolthose skilled in the art, an arrangement s ucli asfthatexlemplied by the button 200 and connected `parts may be variously used either byitselfto control re "lat-'edtensipn or-in c'onjunctionwitli the vii-ve mechanism4 'governed' by the tracker vents'T, T, T, and R, or in conjunction with the 4,described crescendo mechanism comprising.' the pneumatic '38.

l Itlisto be understood'that the invention is n ottlirriited to'tlie specific details 0f construction,'-organiz`ation and mode Of operation hereiljbefore described., ior purposes of illustration. 'On'.the contrary,A the invention may be4 variously modified within the scope of the sub-oined claims as= will appear to those skille in the art.

Claims;

1. An iinstrunientof .the character described comprising, in combination, pneumatic playing actions, a main source of pneumatic power for operating said pneumatic actions; a valvewinterposed between said source of power and said pneumatic actions for controllingr the flow ol' air bc- 1 ,40e-ico tween the two; a. regulating pneumatic connected :to said valve to canse the same to maintain uniformity of playing intensity whether one or many tones be sounded; expression varying means acting upon said regulating pneumatic in opposition to the action of regulated air and tending to actuate the same to produce crescendo effects; a tracker; and means operatively connecting theatraclrer and said expression varying means.

2. An instrument of the character described comprising, in combination, pneumatic playing actions; a niain source of pneumatic power for operating said playing actions; a regulating pneumatic operatively interposed between the main source of power and said 'pneumatic actions, for maintaining` uniformity of playing intensities Whether one or manytones be sounded;

a regulating valve operated by said regulating pneu-matica crescendo pneumatic connected to sai regulating pneumatic and adapted to applyforceA thereto in 'opposition 'to the elfeetive force of rregulated'air; a tracker andi means operatively 'connecting said crescendo pneumatic Withtheftracker.

3; An yinstru-ment of the-character -described comprising, in combination, pneumatic play-ing actions; a main source of pneumatic power for operating'said playing actions regulating means interposedbetween the mam source of power and said neumatic actions for maintaining uniformity of playing intensity whether one or many tones be sounded; elastic means connected to said regulating means; pneumatic means connected to said .elastic means for vary- -ing the power thereof to produce variations -i'n playing intensity; a tracker; and means operatively connecting 'the tracker and 'said pneumatic means.

eL. An instrument of the character described comprisingyin combination, pneumatic playing actions; a main source `of pneumatic power for operating-said playing actions; airegu'lating pneumatic operatively interposed betweenthe main 'source of power and said pneumatic actions' for maintaining uniformity 40f playing intensity whether one' or many tones are sounded; a valve governed by said regulating pneumatic ;A a spring conne'cted.;to` said regulatinflT pneumatic; and pneumatic means connected to said spring for varying the force 'thereof to vary playing intensities; a tracker; and means operatively'ronnecting the 'tracker and said pneumatic means.

5.: An instrument of the character described comprising, in combination, pneumatic ,playing actions; a main source ,of pneumatic power for operating. said playing actions; a regulating pneumatic opera,- tively interposed `between the main source of power and said pneumatic actions; a

llO

valve governed by said regulating pneumatic; a spring connected to the regulating pneumatic; an expression pneumatic connected to said spring for varying the effect thereof upon the regulating pneumatic; a tracker, and means controlled from the tracker for operating said expression pneumatic.

6. An .instrument of theV character described comprising, in combination, pneumatic playinglactions; a main source of pneumatic power for operating saidplaying actions; a regulatin pneumatic operatively interposed betweent emain source of power and said 4pneumatic actionsffor Vmaintaining uniformity of playing intensity whether one or many tones be sounded; a valve governed by said regulating'pneumatic; an expression pneumatic connected to said ,re latmg pneumatic and tendingftov actuate t e same against the action-of `regulated airto produce variations -in playing intensities; :a tracker-3f and :means operatively connecting thel tracker; iand-V V said .f ,expressionvarying means'. 's un f "1' An 4instrument of-rtlie' character V,described comprising, in combination, pneumatic.y playingaantions, a;;main source. of -pneumatiepower for operating said playing actions a; regulati pneumatic operatively interposed Ybetvveent e main source of power and-.said pneumatic actions for maintaining uniformity of; laying. intensity whether one 4or'manytones-vibe sounded; a valve'governed by said, regulating-pneumatic an. expression pneumatic connected -tosaidg reo'ulating pneumatic by which 0I-ce is applic thereto .tending -ito` actuate ,fthe sameuto produce variations fin playing intensity; and; mee-11S for operatingiaid expressionfg neumatic at different speeds topnoducec anges. in, playing intensityuatzidierent, speedsfwg e l 8..- AnfLl-instriument of,1 ntlief character -descri-bed: i comprising-f in coralaiiiation,` pneumatic playing actions main source v of pneumatic power: for operating said y playin actions ai regulating;.pneumatic inter ose betireenthe mainvisource 4o f-.poweran said pneu-matic ac tionsgto :maintain uniformity cfs-playing;intensity-whether one or many tones;beso unded,;favalye governed by said regulating-- pneumatic ;g, expression varying means, ,acting upon said regulating pneumatic Ainoppositionl-toj the action of` regu lated air and tending to actuate the same to produce changes in playing intensities; a trackerpand tracker controlled meansi for varying the speedof, said changes-of playing intensities. y

9.; AnJnStrument of the characterdescribed Icomprising,` in combination, pneumatic playingjactions; a main :source of pneumatic power forf;op erating said playing actions;,a regulating pneumatic linterposed between the main source of power and Inl:

said pneumatic actions for maintaining uniformity of playing intensities whether one or many tones be sounded; a valve governed by said regulating pneumatic; a crescendo pneumatic connected to said regulating pneumatic and adapted to apply force thereto in opposition to the effective force of regulated air to 4vary playing intensities; and speed-regulating mechanism to vary the speed of crescendo operation.

10. An instrument of thecharacter described; comprising, in combination, pneumatic playing actions; a main source of pneumatic power for operating said playing actions; regulating means interposed between the main source of power and said pneumatic actionsV for maintaining uniformity of playing intensities whether one or many tones be sounded; a crescendo pneumatic connected to said regulating pneumatic and adapted to apply force thereto in opposition to the effective force of regulated.' air to vary playing intensities; speedregulatingf'mechanism to vary the speed of crescendo-operation; a tracker; and means connected :witli'the tracker for operating saidtcrescendo and vspeedcontrolling mechanism.- v H 1 1. An instrument ofthe character described4v comprising, in f combination, pneumaticf-playing actions; a=main source of pneumatic power for operating said playing actions; regulating meansinterposed between the main source of4 power and said pneumatic; actions for maintaining uni'- formityof playing'intensities Whether one ormany tones3be sounded; crescendo mechanismi-actingupon said regulating means'to vary;,the .regulation ythereof to Avary playing intensities; Aspeed-regulatin fme'cliani'sm vto varyrstliespeed of lcresc'endo operation; a tracker; "meansconnected with one tracker ventefor controlling4 the crescendo mechanismjf and meanslconnected withvanother tracker vent for controlling thespeed-controllin mechanism. l

1-12w n'jinstrument of the character de- -scribed-compiis`ing, in combination, pneu# matic playing actions; a main source of pneumatic p'ower foroperating said playing actions; a regulating pneumatic operatively interposed between the main source of power andsaid pneumatic actions to maintain uniformity of playing Yintensities whether one or many tones be sounded; avalve governed by said regulating pneumatic; crescendo mechanism acting @upon lsaid `regulating pneumatic in o position to the action of regulatedair an tending t0 actuate the same to vary playingvintensities; resilient means connectingsaid :regulating pneumatic and crescendo mechanism; a tracker; and means operatively;connectingr the tracker and said crescendo mechanism.

18. Anyinstrument of the character dethe Vtracker for in combination, pneua maui source .of

scrilfct: comprising', matic playing actions; pneumatic power for operating Seid playing fictions; cxpression-goi'erning `Ineens for varying thc transmission of vseid power ,to the playing actions; means controlling ,the cxpression-governiiig means fOr vai-ying such transmission by substantially conti-nuous progressionut e pluralityof diffrent speeds; a tracker; and Ineens-connected with selectieely controlling the expression .governing means for wayin-g said trnnsmission a/tziny selected Speed.

1l. :in instrument of the chninoter .descriliied. comprising, i;ii Q@wliblniltion, .pneumatic playing actions; a main ,Soiir of pneumatic 4power for openating seidpneucuni-c actions; a. unive interposed between said source of power Vand 4sir-id pneumatic actions tor controlling fthe new .of air -hc- .tivecnthe two.; a :regulating'pxiilmeticieonf nected to said 1telve 5to caluisezzthefsme to maint-nin uniformityof play-ing tegnsity wh ether one or ni any tones be :sounded ccxpression varying menus; -meailisolinectiiig the expression varying means -to 'fthe regulating pneumatic -by which force-iistrans, mitted thereto tending to actuate thesame against `the act-ion of regulated air :to produce crescendo eects.; o tracker; and moans operatively;7 connecting :the tracker and said expression unifying meansw.

l5. ln a musical instrument, the combination of playing actions; a source of power for operating said actions; -xiieansl tor goverung transmission of power drom .said source to lsaid actions; e megulator operatively connected to said governing means for maintainig. imorm-.ity of playing intensities whether one or men-y actions be operated; automatically operable expression means connected tothe regulator by which force is applied thereto'. -ruling to actuate the same to produce variations in playiv intensities; a tracker; :md means-connecte with the tracker for operating said expression means at a moderate speed appropriate to a crescendo as predetermined by the note sheet.

1G. Au instrument of' the character de.- scribedgcomprising, in combination, a tracker; pneumatic ployngections; 'a source of pneumatic power for opera-ting said actions; u regulating valve between said source of power and said actions; a regulator and n risilient means connected thereto, cooperating to control said volvo; Aeutometic means, connected to the tracker, for Vvarying the act-ion of said resilient means upon Vthe regulator, and therethrough varying the action of said valve; and mea/ns to predetermine the speed of such variation'.

17. An instrument of the character de scribed, comprising, -in combination, a trucker; pneumatic playing actions; a

source of 1piuetuiuttic power for operating Asaid actions; a regulating vulve beth-ecu said source 4of power and said notions; u regulator and a yielding means wnuccted thereto., cooperating to .control said valve; automatic means, connected to the tracker, for varying .at a predetermined crescendo spoed the action ot' said yielding means upon the regulator, and therethrough varyingthe action of said .valve tto produce e change -in .playing intensity ypredetermined byV the *music sheet.

L8.' -Ain instrument o scribed, comprising,

tracker; ypnei-iiiiatic f the .character -dein combination, a .playing actions; ,a source .of pneu-matic power for .o )eroting 'Suid actions; a .regulating ,valve etween said .source of power and said notions; a regulator and a yielding means connected thereto, cooperating gto .control said waive; nutomaticniueams, connected. to the tracker, -ffor varying .iii-a .predetermined manner #the action o'saidyielding means upontlie regulator,-ondthcretirough ver 7 g the a'ction of said valve; and a note s eet having means to'predetermine the extent of such variation. l

19. Ain y instrument of the character de scribed, comprising, `.in combination, a tracker; pneuinatic playing actions; a source of- -pneumafticpowcr for operating seid'sctions; a regulating -i-'alve between seid `source of power and said actions; a regulator and a yoilding means connected thereto, cooper-sting to control said value; automaticnieens for yar-'yin at a. predeter- Vini-ned speed -the .action o said yielding means -u-pon the regulator, and therethrough vsfryingfthe'action'ofsaid valve; and means to predetermineat said predetermined speedl 20. An instrument of the 4clvafract-er de scribed, comprising, in combination, a, tracker; pneumatic playing actions; :i source of pneumatic power sii-id actions; and an automatic crescendo producing apparatus comprising a. valve between Aseid-source of power and said act-ions, controlling means for scid valve torncrease plc-ying intensities gradually et diierent speeds selectively; and a music sheet having means to prjedelleriiii'ne the selection of the speed of such -ifncrease in intensity and also the extent of such increase at the selected speed.

21. An instru-ment of the character de scribed, comprising. in combination, a

tracker; pneumatic playing act-ions; a main Source of pneumatic power for operating said playing actions; matic and valve betweensaid main source 0 power :and said pneumatic actions, f or maintaining uniformity of playing intensity whether' one or many tones be sounded; a spring connected to said regulating pneu the extent of such varie-tion for operating a regulating pneumatic; and means operatively connected with the tracker and also connected to said Spring1 for varying the pull ol' said spring on the regulating pneumatic and thereby varying the loudness of playing under control from the tracker..

v22.` n ii musical instrument, the combination of,v player pneiimatics; a source ol power for actuating tlic player piieuiinitics;

means for controlling the air supply, located between tlie player -piieuinatics and said source- ,of power; a regulating pneumatic in free communication `with the player pneumatics, connected with .and arranged to move .the air controlling means to maintain substantial uniformity of pressure at tl'ic player pneumatica whether many or few thereof-are operateditogetlier.; a tracker; automatic expression controlling devices to varythe degreeof pressure at tbe player pneumatics accordinglas the. expression controlling A-devices are; .set means connecting the tracker andsaid automatic .expression controlling devices for governing 4the latter by 4the Vformer; and a spring connecting said expression .controlling devices vvitlil said regulating pneumatic toitransmit action of the former to the lattenand thereby cause said regulating pneumatic to ,vary .the-actioiipf s aidair controlling.means.` i.

. 23.5111 a musical instrument, player pneumatics; a source of power foractuating the player pneumatics; .Jme a1is=- including a. spring for2 maintaining attlie player pneumatics ,uniformity .of pressure as the said pneumaticsare..opei:atedr; 4a tracker; .antomatic,`r rieans fior.- varying the degree of pressure :which.thelsaidnniaintaining means will maintain; meansconnecting the-tracker and said. automatic means for Agoverning the latter-by the former .sa id 4automatic means beingr connected by- -saidV spring tosaid maintaining meansV to transmitaction of tlic formeritotlie latten-and thereby cause said maintaining meansto .varytliedegree of.

pressure at the playenpneumatics: l

24. In a musical .instruinent, player' pneuinatics; asource of power for actuating the same; a valve controlling tlie actionlot said source of powennponr the player= pneumatics; and two automatically actuated means; one acting directly upon the other to modify the operation thereof. :ind said other acting upon said valve to control tlic same, for maintaining and producing numerous operative effects of tbe main `source of power upon the player pneumatics; a tracker; and means connecting the same with said automatically actuated means.

25. In a musical instrument; plalyer pneumatics; a source of power; a regu ating device having a spring, to automatically maintain predetermined pressures upon the player pneumatics; and an automatically actuated device connected witli said spring loi' varying the operative clect ol said maintaining device and for producing and, maintaining any predetermined degree of pressure of tlic main source of power upon the. player pneumatica 2U. In a musical'instrument, pneumatic playing actions; a main Source of power; a regulating pneumatic communicating with said playin actions and main source ot, power; a va vc arranged betweensaidmain source of powerand regulating pneumatic and connected with lsaid regulating pneu-h matic; and an automatically operablcexpression pneumatic connected with said regulating pneumatic; and adapted to inod-Y ity the operation of said regulating pneu-V matic andthereby -vary the actionwof` said valve; and yieldingv means. i1i tlie connectionv between tlie .regulating `pneumatic andfsaid expression pneumatic. L

27. In a'musicall `iisi :ri.iment;4 the goinbiiila-| tion 0f player pneumatic-sshd anelpfi'rii ,l pneumaticl `in connection therewith; .iiliearis; for exliaustingfthe acilroin` 'said p neiin'iatic means or4 expandingffsaid rpneuniaticQO against the action offthe'j exhaust; ai' wind trunk connecting tliepneumati'c" and the 4'ex'-y haust; a valve controllingsaildvi'ndtrunk; connections intermediate the pii'eiini 'tfic and valve Vfor operating the valve; ',andlauto- 95 matic ex re'ss'ion mea'i'isoperabl'e by :tlieexhaust an interconnected with the means? forr expanding. Said; rheumatic gfor .indirectly govei'nin said valve'jthroufgli'l p i'iei'imatic4 w ile A'in"ai n taii'iing' control'fo "tli'e 10o valve by saidpneumaticrj' A www '.-v 2S. In aV musical instrument, pneumatic player actions; am'a'in alii;cliifi'mber;u lating air chamber .communicating wi player actions andinain ai'r chamber;

i ing saidcxprcssioircham er.'

29. In combi ation strikeijpneumatics and :i niainsource 4of power- ',f'alpregulator 'fo'r; niaintainiiignniforinity Aof ressiireipf tliezll main source of power upon t ic striker pneumatics at all degrees of pressure irrespective of the number of striker pneumatics actuated at any one time and a pneumatically controlled variable tension device for varying 12o the action of the regulator and consequent pressures of the main source of power with reference to the striker neumatics.

30. In combination striker pneumatics and a main source of power, a regulator for maintaining uniformity of pressure of the main source of power upon the striker pneumatics at all de rees of pressure with reference thereto an an automatically controlled variable tension device for varying the action of tlie regulator' and consequent pressures f tlie mein scure of power" with reference to tlie striker pneumatic's'.

31. In combination striker pneumutics and. a. main source of poi-rer, e. regulator for maintaining uniformity of pressure of the main source' 'of power upon the striller pneuniatcs at all degrees of pressure irrespective of the number of striker pnenmatics actuated at :my one time and an autom'zit'icelly controlled variftble pneumatic tension device for' vsirying the fiction of the regulator and consequent pressures of the rnin source of p'diiver with reference to the striker pneumoties.

32. In Combination striker pneuinutics and a' niain soce of power, a rgultr for' ineinta'iig uniformity' of pressure of the mein source of power upon the striker pneumacs at all degrees o f pressure ies'pctiii of the niber' f 'strikes pnfntics" fctufed un any onetime, e lie-notitie having it 'legi-liein; connection with tue regulator for tten- Siijgi tfi'' latter", e, vfly 'rc-'l'idnis'm contr'cning sind psalmen@ :me it @anni-:enen from seid valve mechanism e0- tne pneumatic forneintening" sind pneumatic in' fizry de- Sied igsil f adjustment 3a. femeninos striker paesino-CS and a. main s 'urc'e of potrei', vit'."Ife'g'ul'ator for maintaining uniformity of pressing of che mitin soufre of poser 4iiprni t e js'tikrpeumince ai' su degni-:sei si-essere irri-ispettive or the nun-bei of striker pneu-mance anniated at iinj time', a ne'unltic liaiir'rg n resilient connection `Wit the' regulat'o for tensioning theditte, a valve mechanism ont'r'llix'ig@ s' rpiefuin'atic e'n'd connection f ilii d v :ilii'e' IlliiiI-I'isn to' tlie peinnitic for ina'in'ta'iniiig'" solid pneumatic' in any desired position of djust'ment, Vand automatic devices for varying the position of tlic connetin. l

34. In coiibinzitio'x'i striker 'pneu't'natics and and :i main source of'powega regulator' fmnmintnining uniformity of pressure of the main source of power upon the striker pneuinaticsatl all derees of p'essiire irrespective of the num er of striker plie-nineties actuated at any' one tilne, al pneumatic lievincenso ing a resilient connection with the regulator for tensioning the latter, a valve mechanism controlling said pneumatic und a connection from said vulve mechanism to thc pneumatic for maintaining said pneumatic in any de sired position of adjustment und automatic pneumatic devices controlled from a trackerboard for varying the position of the con` nectiom 35. In a musical instrument, the combination of playing pneumatics; a source of power for operating the playing pneumatics; n, valve' between said source of power and plnying pneumatics; n regulator lowing operative connection with said vulve; an

expression bellows having a resilient connection with the regulator for variably tensioning the lutter; and ineens for actuating the valve independently of the regulator and sii-id expression bellows.

36; In a', musical instrument, the com- Binet-ion of playing pneumatics; :i source ot' power for' operting' the playing pneun'iatics; u1 vulve .between said source of ower and the playing' pneu'r'ritics'; a regu utor liaring opert'n-'e connection with said valve; a spring for tensioning the regulator pneumatic; :in expression pneumatic for varinblj' tensioning seid spring;` means for ctuating the vulve independently of the pneumatic tension in s-id regulator lund in Suid expression bellows.

25T. In o; musical instrument. the coniliination of playing pneunnitics; n main source of power for operating the playing pneunizitics; a regulator having operativo connection with :i valife between the source of poiver und the playing pneumatics; means noting upon the regulator and :idalpte'd to var v the regulation for producing crecendo cii'ects'; sind additional separately operable means acting upon the regulator vulve for producing other effects.

Iii testimony whereof. I have signed my naine to this' specification: in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES F. STODDARD, ll'itnesses FRANCIS H. B. BYRNE, RICHARD K. IAYN'rnn. 

